Wednesday, November 29, 2017

It is time to pull away the Blinders and see the REPUBLICAN TAX PLAN FOR WHAT IT REALLY IS- A CHANCE TO BRING TOGETHER TWO SEPARATE IDEOLOGIES THAT ARE AFTER THE SAME THING: TO HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OVER THE LIVES OF ALL AMERICANS, FINANCIALLY, ETHICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY. IT IS THE TOTALITARIAN DREAM THAT FAVORS THE FEW, AT THE EXPENSE OF THE MANY. Consider the following; What do we know about DONALD TRUMP THE POLITICIAN, IN TERMS OF WHERE HIS SUPPORT LIES;1. Those who favor BIG TAX BENEFITS FOR CORPORATE AMERICA, AND KEEPING THE COUNTRIES WEALTH IN THE HANDS OF THE FEW. NO UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE, AND FEW REGULATIONS THAT PROTECT THE CONSUMER.2. Those who believe in the SOCIAL HIERARCHY THAT FAVORS SPECIFIC GROUPS, AND PERSECUTES OTHERS. FREEDOM OF RELIGION, SPEECH, OR ASSEMBLY etc., ARE NO LONGER RIGHTS UNIVERSALLY APPLIED TO ALL, BUT ARE GIVEN HANDED OUT AS PRIVILEGES BY THOSE WHO CARE LITTLE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES.Before you answer, think about it, carefully. When you look at those Politicians who favor TRUMPSECONOMIC POLICIES THE MOST, WHAT IS THE GENERAL MAKE UP OF THE CONSTITUENCIES THEY REPRESENT. Do they have ...-...a Higher Standard of Living, when comparedto the rest of the Nation? -...a Population with a High Percentage havingMedical Coverage, when compared to other States? -...Wage Standards above the Minimum required by Federal Law, that are Adjusted for Inflation orEconomic Necessity?-...a Public School System that emphasizes the disciplines of Science and Logic, whether or not they disagree with Religious Faith?If we find that some States are consistently located at the lower end of the Spectrum, and are represented by Politicians who supportEconomic Policies that do not address these problems, we must askthe question: WHY ARE THEY ELECTED, AND REELECTED,TIME AFTER TIME? STAY TUNED...

Despite the heartbreak, I have channeled my sadness into a deepened commitment. A commitment to support and uplift our trans siblings, especially those of color — who are at a heightened risk for violence.

No one is free until we are ALL free. I firmly believe this — as an HRC supporter, I’m sure you do, too.

So today on Transgender Day of Remembrance, let us take a moment to pause and honor the lives lost this year. Then take another moment and make a commitment to do something more to help stop the hatred, discrimination and deadly violence that plagues transgender people.

No one should live in fear of being murdered just for being their true and authentic self. Not in this country — not anywhere.

Sunday, November 19, 2017

For many families, the decision to place an elderly family member in a nursing home is very difficult. You expect nothing but the best -- the best people, the best resources, the best facility -- to ensure your loved one is safe and happy.

Unfortunately, nursing homes in Florida and across the nation are not meeting that expectation.

When Hurricane Irma barreled through Florida earlier this year, thousands lost power -- including nursing home facilities. Elderly individuals died because of lack of air conditioning.

Nursing homes need to treat their residents like people, not dollar signs. They shouldn't cut corners when it comes to things like emergency backup generators.

I'm working on a plan that would:

1. Require nursing homes to have sufficient backup generators to power air conditioning for at least 96 hours.

2. Require utility companies to make nursing homes a top priority after natural disasters, just like they do with hospitals.

3. Assist small nursing homes in complying with these requirements.

We can't change what happened after Hurricane Irma. But we can make sure this preventable loss of life doesn't happen again.

...That even with the results of the 2016 Presidential Election staring them in the face, neither the REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS are going to contest the BOGUS ELECTION RESULTS THAT HANDED DONALD TRUMP THE OVAL OFFICE. So, if valid and fair Elections are a priority for you, I SUGGEST WORKING VERY HARD AT THE LOCAL AND STATE LEVELS, TO ENSURE THAT RESULTS ARE AUDITED, COMPUTER RESULTS ARE CHECKED AND RECHECKED, AND THAT THOSE WHO ARE IN PLACE TO ENSURE HONESTY AND ACCURACY ARE INVESTIGATED FOR ANY POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST. Apparently, at the Federal Level it is not a priority. DO NOT TAKE THE WORD OF YOUR OWN PARTY, BECAUSE HONEST AND OPEN ELECTIONS MIGHT NOT BE IMPORTANT. Just a reminder, these results were ACHIEVED BY THE ALTERING OF THE FINAL VOTE COUNTS. Feeding or Providing one side with information detrimental to the other, COULD HAVE INFLUENCED VOTERS BEFORE THEY ENTERED THE POLLS, BUT WOULD NOT GUARANTEE VICTORY. THERE IS NO WAY TO QUANTIFY THE AMOUNT OF INFLUENCE SUCH INFORMATION WOULD HAVE. The Final Vote counts were determined by ILLEGALLY ENTERING THE SYSTEM , AND ENSURING THAT THE TOTALS GAVE DONALD TRUMP VICTORY.Along the same lines; It is hilarious that Democrats are still turning on one another, ATTEMPTING TO EXPLAIN THE DONALD TRUMP VICTORY AT THE POLLS.GUESS WHAT?: IT WAS A RIGGED ELECTION, NEITHER HILLARY CLINTON OR BERNIE SANDERS WOULD HAVE WON. TRY LOOKING FOR ACTUAL SOLUTIONS, INSTEAD OF GIVING DONALD TRUMP AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT DEMOCRATIC PARTY DISUNITY, SO HE CAN AVOID TALKING ABOUT THE UNMITIGATED DISASTER HIS ADMINISTRATION HAS BECOME.

Saturday, November 18, 2017

Make no mistake about it, David: the “tax cut” bill Republicans passed in the House of Representatives yesterday wasn’t for you.

That bill was written for the billionaires and the mega-corporations Republican elites count as their core constituency. For ordinary Americans out there who don’t count themselves as part of the top 1/10 of 1 percent, this bill is a massive redistribution of wealth from your family to those who already have it all.

But as bad as the House bill is, the Senate bill is even worse. Because not only does it have many of the same giveaways to the ultra-rich, it also has provisions that would all but destroy the Affordable Care Act.

As if it wasn’t cruel enough to take away people’s health care to get back at President Obama, now Republicans are trying to do it to fund tax cuts for billionaires.

The Senate is likely going to vote on this bill soon, and the first step to stopping them is getting the public on the record opposing their scheme. Say you’re with me.

Republicans have repeatedly gone on the record that this tax bill is written to placate ultra-rich donors and the large CEOs of this country who stand to gain the most. And to do it in a way that will take away health care from millions? My God.

Attacks on our health care have no place in any bill, let alone a tax bill — but Mitch McConnell is desperate enough for a political win that he's trying to force them through.

They failed to repeal health care because of our fierce opposition. So now, McConnell and his ideologue friends are trying to sneak a provision through in their tax bill that would rip away health care from 13 million people, and raise premiums for millions more. They're rushing to pass this harmful bill in the coming weeks. We need to rise up and stop it now.

McConnell's latest move sabotages the ACA by repealing one of its central components: the individual mandate, which ensures everyone has health coverage. Thanks to the ACA, nearly 10 million women gained health care coverage and the number of uninsured women was cut almost in half. This latest attack from McConnell threatens to reverse that progress.

If this disaster of a tax bill passes, it would cause millions of people's premiums to skyrocket and could destabilize insurance markets, wreaking havoc on health care in this country. But McConnell and his allies don't care — they're just trying to give a tax break to their millionaire friends by taking health care away from families who are working hard to make ends meet.

The situation is dire, but here's the good news: People don't want this — and McConnell knows it. That's why he snuck it in and is trying to pass it quickly, before we can rally and shut it down.

Remember how they tried to do the same thing over and over again with the push to "repeal and replace" the Affordable Care Act? And remember how grassroots hellraising — including your activism — stopped them every single time?

House votes to make YOU pay for a massive tax cut for wealthy

Trump and the GOP promised to cut cut cut and boy do they mean it. But it's not you or I who will benefit.

Thanks to Paul Ryan and the House GOP, millions of working and middle class families will pay MORE taxes to stuff the pockets of the rich and big corporations. This is a big holiday gift to their donors.

The tax bill is health care repeal in reverse. First, they cut taxes for big corporations and billionaires. Then they slash Medicare by $470 billion, Medicaid and other health programs by $1.3 trillion over the next ten years. They are taking lifesaving medicine from children and the elderly to make more money than they can ever spend.

This could be the largest wealth transfer -- from working people to the ultra wealthy -- in American history. This dwarfs the tax cuts of Reagan and George W. Bush, neither of which led to real economic growth. Instead they stuck us with the bill.

Congressman Knight knew the Republican tax plan would hurt California families. He even told us he had concerns. But when it came time to stand with our community, Knight turned his back on us and gave President Trump and Paul Ryan his vote.

...THAT WOULD GIVE THE CITIZEN OR VOTER MORE FACTUAL INFORMATION TO MAKE MORE CONSIDERED CHOICES COME ELECTION TIME.

The Question is - Does it Matter, and If So, HOW MUCH?

Year After Year, Poll After Poll We ARE CONSTANTLY TOLD HOW MUCH THE AVERAGE VOTER OR CITIZEN IS FED UP WITH THE WAY GOVERNMENT;

- CONDUCTS BUSINESS.

- IS FULL OF IMMORAL AND DISHONEST INDIVIDUALS.

- PROTECTS THE RICH AND THE UNDESERVING.

- HAS LOST TRUST WITH THE "COMMON MAN."

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY... MUST BE OVERHAULED

WITH NEW FACES AND FRESH IDEAS.

Yet if We Examine the Results of Past Elections, the REALITY OF

THE DETERMINATION BY VOTERS TO ALTER THE

"STATUS QUO" BECOMES CLEAR: IT IS MAINLY A DESIRE TO SEE

OTHER VOTERS REMOVE THEIR INCUMBENTS FROM ELECTED

OFFICE, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO DO THE SAME WITH THEIR OWN REPRESENTATIVES.

EVEN WHEN THIS DOES HAPPEN, THE NEWLY ELECTED
OFFICIALRARELY REPRESENTS A CLEAR BREAK WITH THE IDEOLOGY AND OPINIONS OF HIS PREDECESSOR. SOMETIMES IT IS JUST THE SAME OLD PRODUCT, REPACKAGED AND RESOLD IN A DIFFERENT FORM.

SO WHAT DOES THIS TELL US ABOUT THE NECESSITY FOR INCUMBENT OFFICE HOLDERS TO BE TRUTHFUL, AND IF DOING SO PAYS OFF, ( AT LEAST POLITICALLY), OR IS ACTUALLY A LIABILITY TO A LONG CAREER IN POLITICS?

I build doghouses with PETA because no dog should ever have to face a frigid winter without shelter.

To see a dog shivering, huddled on the cold, frosty ground just trying to stay warm … it breaks my heart. That's why I do what I do: build doghouses for neglected "outdoor dogs" with PETA.

But at this time each year, as days grow shorter and temperatures drop, my work becomes all the more urgent. Winter is nearly here—and neglected dogs who don't get shelter in time may not survive until spring.

...but right now, there aren't enough funds to build all the doghouses that we need to deliver before the dangerous winter weather sets in.

I've seen firsthand the conditions that so many dogs are forced to live in—soaking wet and caked with mud, which puts them at risk for painful infections. When it snows, they curl up in the plastic crate or broken barrel that serves as their sad excuse for "shelter" andstruggle to make it through the long, cold night.

Their owners do have a choice—and PETA's fieldworkers do everything that they can to encourage them to make the right one. But when they can't be persuaded to allow their dogs indoors and local officials won't enforce the meager provisions of the law, we do everything in our power to make suffering dogs more comfortable. We provide them with sturdy doghouses, straw bedding, a toy to play with, and even basic medical care such as flea and tick treatment.

Ultimately, the number of dogs we can help depends on how much support we get from friends...

Saturday, November 11, 2017

House Republicans are finalizing a GOP tax plan that will give $1.5 trillion in tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires as well as wealthy corporations. And to pay for that, they will raise taxes on 38 million middle class families and make deep cuts in Medicaid, Medicare, education and infrastructure investments. This is a plan that imposes a crushing burden on the next generation.

In addition, this plan increases tax breaks for corporations that ship jobs overseas; removes the deduction for state and local taxes for individuals but leaves it in place for corporations; eliminates the medical expense deduction, which is vital to families with substantial medical expenses; and gets rid of the student loan interest deduction that helps make college more affordable.

I’m going to fight as hard as I can to defeat this terrible tax scam and work for a real tax reform that cuts taxes for middle-class families, promotes economic growth and encourages the creation of good-paying jobs.

Friday, November 10, 2017

But the GOP tax scam being pushed through Congress is truly terrible. It would raise taxes on millions of Massachusetts families and weaken tax breaks for clean energy job creation.

If it’s passed, countless workers and families will wind up in a worse financial situation just so Republicans can provide a massive giveaway to the wealthy, corporate executives, and the fossil fuel industry.

Now that the latest Election Cycle is over, what can we take from it? Yes, the Democrats did very well, but that is more the result of DONALD TRUMPS inability to-- well, do anything that could be considered remotely Presidential, and whose failure to grasp even the most basic functions as Head of State is a constant reminder of the Democrats decision to not challenge the BOGUS RESULTS FROM THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. However, that decision is only one of several that has been made in the recent past that has given us "PRESIDENT" DONALD TRUMP, AND A REPUBLICAN PARTY DETERMINED TO DESTROY ANY SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE OVER THE PAST CENTURY.*#1- Allowing the REPUBLICAN PARTYS refusal to hold a Hearing for PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMAS NOMINEE FOR SUPREME COURT TO GO UNCHALLENGED, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS AN APPARENT VIOLATION OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.#2- Ignoring the continuing use of DONALD TRUMPS name and likeness in purely commercial ads running on the Internet, a flagrant example of CONFLICT OF INTEREST.#3- The Refusal to face the TRUTH ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, IGNORING THE NUMBERS WHICH TELL US THE REAL STORY, AND BLAMING INTER-PARTY RIVALRY.The fact that the Courage and Ethics of several REPUBLICAN PARTY MEMBERS WERE REQUIRED TO SAVE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, SHOULD TELL YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE LEADERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.I have covered the above in other ARTICLES, AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO UNTIL AREASONABLE EXPLANATION IS OFFERED EXPLAINING WHY THESE DECISIONS WERE MADE.

(*To me, that is what DONALD TRUMP MEANT WHEN HE SAID "MAKE AMERICA GREATAGAIN.")

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If any of these life changes apply - contact us today and we can help get you covered before these changes take effect:

You have recently lost your health insurance or your job

You moved, got married or had a baby

Any other significant life change

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Yes, they're at it again. Private Enterprise is again using DONALD TRUMPS NAME TO SELL A PRODUCT. JUST LIKE THE "ADVERTORIALS" I WROTE ABOUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST YEAR, THIS IS NOTHING MORE THEN AN ATTEMPT TO CASH IN ON THE TRUMP NAME
TO SELL A PRODUCT THAT HAS NO LEGITIMATE TIE-IN TO ANY GOVERNMENT SPONSORED
OR FUNDED PROGRAM.

SINCE WE CANNOT RELY ON EITHER THE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRATIC PARTIES TO DO ANYTHING USEFUL, (THEY IGNORED THE "GET RICH QUICK SCHEME'' ADVERTORIALS THAT FEATURED, AT FIRST, "CANDIDATE DONALD TRUMP", THEN SWITCHED TO "PRESIDENT ELECT" AFTER THE "ELECTION."), IT IS UP TO PROGRESSIVES, LIBERALS, AND OTHER AMERICANS WHO ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THE U.S., AND ALL OF IT'S CITIZENS, TO STAND UP TO THE CONTINUING EFFORT TO SELL SPONSORSHIPS/ENDORSEMENTS TO ANYONE LOOKING TO MOVE PRODUCT.